Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-06-09

he alone has suffrage he must bear the
responsibility of the existing conditions
of law and license.
A Decision Against the Right OF Wsmen
to Vote In Wisconsin.
A case of interest to the people, and
of especial interest to the advocates of
woman suffrage, was decided at the
term of the circuit court of Crawford
county just closed. 1t seems that pre-
liminary to the annual town meetings
this spring, the committe having in
charge the interests of the woman suf-
frage movement in this state, advised
the various local committees to urge the
women of their respective localities to
vote at the town meetings. Accordingly
in many places the women offered to
vote, and at some polling places their
votes were received. They claimed the
right to vote under the law of 1885,
which was ratified by the people, giving
women the right to vote at all elections
pertaining to school matters" Their
claim was that all elections in one way
or another pertaining to school matters,
and THEREFORE that women in Wisconsin
have the right to vote at all elections.
One of the places in which the votes
offered by women were received was the
town of Utica, in Crawford county; but
the supervisors having some doubt of
their legality, discreeetly put them in
separate box. However they counted
them. Aside from those votes the
Democratic candidate for chairman of
the board had majority, but by count
| ing them the majority was with the
Republican candidate, and to him was
issued the certificate of election. He
proceeded to qualify and assume the
duties of the office. But he who was
thus defeated did not relish it, and
brought suitfn the circuit court to GUST
the successful candidate from office.
The case was determined by the court
in favor of the contestant, the court
holding that the law in question did not
give women the right to vote at annual
town meetings or general elections.
The Rev. Olympia Brown, of Racine,
who is one of the leading woman suf-
fragists in this state, and who has q
suit pending in the circuit court, Of
Racine county, against certain ware
commissioners of that city for refusing
to receive her vote at the spring election
arrived in Prairie du Chen to look after
this case on the day the decision wa:
rendered. After 1t was made, she imme
diately looked up one of the attorneys
on the woman suffrage side of the case,
and although he, hungry after his exer
tons and anxious within the TWEEN y
minutes that remained to him before the
opening of the court in the afternoon, to
stay his inner man with meat and
drink, plainly indicated that he did not
4
interviewing him. She wanted to know
how the the case had been decided. He
told her. "rhen" said she, "the Judge is
not in favor of woman suffrage?" "On
| the contrary madam" replied the polite
attorney, g my impression is from re-
marks he made in deciding the case that
he is" Said she, chow did he come to
make such a decision?" "Why, my dear
lady, said the attorney, 1.-THE Judge had
to decide this case upon construction
of the language of the law and not upon
his feelings. 1t is not his duty to tell
what the law is; not to make it what he
would like it to be-" Mr. Attorney
thereupon took his hat and arose to his
feet seeing that but ten minutes remained
to him for dinner, bu. the lady had u
duty to perform and obdurately remained
seated. "You were with Mr.. Thomas
on our side of the case understand, "
said she. II was, madam" said he,
ltwitching his hat nervously. "Who
argued the ease to the court on our
side," said she. MIR. Thomas" he re-
piled. us he in favor of women suf-
frage?" II don't know whether he is
or not" replied the attorney in tone
that indicated that he was loosing his
amiability. care you in favor of it, F"
was her next question. mo" he bur-
esquely replied. "Is that So" She said
with surprise and some excitemen t,
"then we lost the case because the attor-
neys had no heart in it?" Madam"
said the distracted attorney, II have got
but seven minutes left in which to get
my dinner and be at the court house,
must go. At more convenient time
l will be too glad to talk with you" and
so the interview ended.
The Rev. Olympia Brown called
meeting to be held at the court house the
following evening, and did not fail while
advocating her cause to severely ami
madvert upon the innocent chair the
Judge had occupied for the decision,
which she said it had rendered.
To Old Settlers.